Crispy & Convenient: How to Air Fry Red Baron French Bread Pizza to Perfection
Craving pizza but don’t want the hassle of ordering a whole pie or waiting for a conventional oven? We’ve all been there – that sudden desire for a cheesy, comforting slice. Look no further than your freezer and your trusty air fryer! Once you discover this incredibly simple and efficient method for preparing Red Baron French bread pizza in the air fryer, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Say goodbye to soggy crusts and hello to perfectly crisp, melty, and utterly delicious individual pizzas in minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Quick Air Fryer French Bread Pizza Method
Red Baron’s single-serve French bread pizzas are a freezer staple for a reason. They offer a satisfyingly crispy crust, rich tomato sauce, plenty of cheese, and your favorite toppings, all on a convenient French bread base. What makes them even better? The air fryer transforms these frozen treats into an elevated culinary experience that far surpasses microwave or even traditional oven cooking. Available in a variety of delicious flavors like classic pepperoni, savory supreme, cheesy garlic, and a hearty 3-meat option, every single one cooks up flawlessly in your air fryer, delivering consistent results every time.
The standout benefit? Speed and convenience. You can cook a frozen French bread pizza in your air fryer in just 5-7 minutes, straight from the freezer – no defrosting necessary! This makes it an absolute game-changer for busy individuals, hungry kids, or anyone needing a quick snack or lunch during hectic weekdays. Imagine, a hot, fresh, and perfectly cooked mini pizza ready in less time than it takes to preheat a conventional oven.
Plus, the texture is simply unbeatable. Who can resist the allure of perfectly melted cheese, sizzling savory toppings, and a warm French bread base that’s wonderfully crispy on the edges yet still soft and fluffy on the inside? The air fryer circulates hot air evenly, ensuring that ideal balance of textures that makes French bread pizza so beloved. It’s the ultimate comfort food, made effortless.
Personally, I ensure my freezer is always stocked with these convenient singles. They are the perfect solution for unexpected hunger pangs, impromptu playdates, or those evenings when cooking a full meal just isn’t in the cards. With this air fryer method, you’ll always have something easy, satisfying, and incredibly tasty at your fingertips.
Quick + Easy Recipes
straight to your inbox
What You’ll Need for Your Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
Making delicious frozen French bread pizza in your air fryer requires minimal ingredients and equipment. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Here’s a quick overview:
- Red Baron Frozen French Bread Pizzas: Any flavor will work perfectly. Whether you’re a fan of pepperoni, supreme, or classic cheese, the air fryer will bring out the best in each one.
- An Air Fryer: Of course! Any model, whether it’s a basket-style or oven-style air fryer, will do the trick. Just make sure it’s clean and ready to go.
Ingredient Notes and Tips
- While my family’s go-to is the Red Baron pepperoni French bread pizza, feel completely free to choose any flavor that excites your taste buds. Options like cheese & garlic, supreme, or the 3-meat variety will all yield fantastic results. Experiment to find your personal favorite!
- Don’t limit yourself strictly to Red Baron. If you have other brands of frozen French bread pizza in your freezer, such as Stouffer’s or Mama Cozzi’s (often found at Aldi), they will also cook wonderfully using this air fryer method. The cooking times and temperatures provided are generally applicable to most frozen French bread pizzas, though slight adjustments might be needed based on thickness and your specific air fryer model.
- No additional oil or cooking spray is needed for the pizza itself, as it comes pre-prepared. This keeps the process mess-free and simple.
How to Air Fry Red Baron French Bread Pizza: Step-by-Step Instructions
Achieving a perfectly cooked, crispy Red Baron French bread pizza in your air fryer is incredibly easy. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a delicious meal or snack ready in no time!
- Preheat Your Air Fryer to 400°F (200°C): Just like a conventional oven, preheating your air fryer is crucial for even cooking and ensuring a crispy crust from the start. This typically takes about 3-5 minutes, depending on your air fryer model.
- Unwrap and Place Pizza: Carefully remove the frozen French bread pizza from all its packaging (cardboard, plastic wrap, etc.). Once unwrapped, place the pizza face up in the preheated air fryer basket or on the tray, ensuring there’s a little space around it for air circulation. Avoid overcrowding the basket if cooking multiple pizzas.
- Cook for 5 Minutes: Set your air fryer to the “air fry” setting and cook the pizza for an initial 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C). During this time, the cheese will begin to melt, and the crust will start to crisp up.
- Check and Adjust for Browning: After 5 minutes, carefully check the pizza. If you prefer a deeper, golden-brown crust and extra crispy edges, you can continue to cook it for an additional 1-2 minutes. Keep a close eye on it during this extra time to prevent burning, as air fryers can cook quickly. The ideal doneness is when the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned, and the French bread is visibly crispy.
- Cool Before Serving: Once cooked to your liking, carefully remove the hot French bread pizza from the air fryer. Allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes before cutting and serving. This brief cooling period helps the cheese set slightly and prevents burns from the molten toppings. It also makes the pizza easier to handle.
Delicious Pairings: What to Eat With French Bread Pizza
While a frozen French bread pizza cooked in the air fryer is perfectly satisfying on its own, pairing it with certain sides or extra toppings can elevate it into a more complete and delightful meal. Here are some fantastic suggestions to complement your crispy air-fried pizza:
- Additional Pizza Toppings: Customize your pizza before cooking! Sprinkle on extra cheese, add fresh basil, sliced mushrooms, black olives, or even a handful of spinach. Pepperoni lovers might add more pepperoni for an extra kick.
- Seasonings & Condiments:
- Parmesan cheese: A classic sprinkle for a salty, umami boost.
- Red pepper flakes: For those who love a bit of heat.
- Dried oregano or basil: Enhances the Italian flavors.
- Pizza seasoning: A blend of herbs designed to complement pizza.
- Garlic powder or garlic salt: For an extra savory punch.
- Marinara or pizza sauce: For dipping your crust!
- Fresh Salads: A crisp, refreshing salad provides a perfect contrast to the rich pizza.
- Garden salad: Simple, fresh greens with your favorite vinaigrette.
- Caesar salad: Classic and always a crowd-pleaser.
- Caprese salad: Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil with a balsamic glaze.
- Burrata salad: Creamy burrata cheese with seasonal greens and tomatoes.
- Savory Appetizers & Sides:
- Fried mozzarella sticks or bites: More cheesy goodness!
- Fried zucchini: A lighter fried option.
- Bruschetta: Toasted bread with fresh tomato and basil topping.
- Garlic knots or breadsticks: Perfect for dipping in extra sauce.
- Roasted broccoli or asparagus: A healthy and flavorful vegetable side.
- Antipasto salad: A hearty mix of cured meats, cheeses, olives, and marinated vegetables.
- Chicken wings: A classic pairing for a more substantial meal.
- Spinach and artichoke dip: Creamy and delicious, served with crusty bread or chips.
- Hearty Soups: A warm bowl of soup can make your French bread pizza feel like a full, cozy meal.
- Tomato soup: A classic and comforting choice.
- Minestrone soup: A vegetable-rich and satisfying option.
- Since French bread pizzas come with toppings on one side, there is no flipping required during cooking. This is great news, as attempting to flip them would likely result in losing all those delicious, melty toppers!
- Feel free to get creative and add additional toppings as desired before cooking. Want more cheese? Go for it! Sliced bell peppers, onions, or even some thinly sliced banana peppers can add a personalized touch. I often add banana peppers to mine, as you rarely see that on a frozen pizza! Just be mindful not to overload it, which can affect cooking.
- Always use a spatula or a pair of tongs to carefully retrieve your French bread pizza from the hot air fryer basket. This prevents accidental burns and helps ensure all the precious toppings stay in place as you transfer it to a plate.
- If you plan to cook more than one pizza at a time, no additional cooking time is typically required, provided they fit in a single layer in your air fryer’s basket or on its racks. If you have a smaller air fryer or need to cook several, cook them in batches to ensure proper air circulation and the best crispy results. Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking and less crispiness.
- These Red Baron French bread pizzas were tested in my Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer and consistently came out perfect after 6 minutes of cooking. Keep in mind that air fryer models vary in wattage and efficiency, so your specific brand and model might require a slight adjustment of 30 seconds to a minute more or less. Always use the provided times as a guideline and adjust based on your appliance.
- It’s quite normal for some lighter toppings, like small pieces of pepperoni or cheese, to fly off during the powerful air frying process. Don’t worry, they should simply fall back into the basket where you can easily retrieve them after cooking.
- The only way to completely prevent toppings from flying off is to wrap the pizza in foil. However, be aware that this will also prevent the crust from browning and crisping up properly. Furthermore, wrapping in foil will significantly extend your cook time – potentially doubling it – as the hot air cannot directly reach the food. For crispy results, I recommend cooking unwrapped.
- Storing Leftovers: If you have any leftover Red Baron French bread pizza, allow it to cool completely before storing. Place it in an airtight container, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or use a zippered bag. Store the pizza in the refrigerator and consume it within 4 days for optimal freshness and safety.
- Reheating in the Air Fryer: For the best results when reheating refrigerated French bread pizzas, the air fryer is your go-to method. Cook them for approximately 5 minutes at 375°F (190°C), or until they are warmed through and the crust has regained its crispness. This lower temperature prevents the crust from over-browning while allowing the cheese to melt perfectly.
- Microwave Reheating (Last Resort): While you can microwave refrigerated French bread pizza for about 1 minute until warmed, be aware that this method will result in a soft, non-crispy crust. It’s quick, but sacrifices texture.
- Do Not Refreeze: It is not recommended to refreeze previously cooked French bread pizzas. This can affect the texture and quality of the crust and toppings upon subsequent reheating.
-
Air Fryer
- 10.8 Ounce box frozen Red Baron French bread pizza (any flavor)
-
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C)
-
Remove the frozen French bread pizza from all packaging, and place it face up in the preheated air fryer basket. Ensure it’s in a single layer for best results.10.8 Ounce box frozen Red Baron French bread pizza
-
Cook on the air fry setting for 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
-
If desired, cook an additional 1-2 minutes for a deeper browning and extra crispiness. Monitor closely to prevent burning.
-
Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes before serving (the pizza will be very hot). This helps the cheese set and prevents burns.
- While I’m using Red Baron pepperoni French bread pizza as that’s my family’s favorite, you can feel free to use any flavor you like (cheese & garlic, supreme, 3 meat, etc). All varieties cook perfectly in the air fryer.
- Of course, you can also use other brands of frozen French bread pizza if you don’t have any Red Baron. Stouffer’s and Mama Cozzi’s (Aldi) are great too, just ensure they are of similar size and thickness.
- Since this pizza has toppings on top, there is no flipping required during cooking. This ensures your toppings stay in place and get perfectly melted.
- Feel free to add additional pizza toppings as desired before cooking, such as extra cheese, veggies, or a sprinkle of herbs.
- I recommend using a spatula or tongs to grab your French bread pizza from the air fryer. This helps prevent burns from the hot appliance and keeps the toppings from sliding off.
- If you want to cook more than one pizza at a time, no additional time is required so long as you can fit them in a single layer in your air fryer’s basket or rack. For best results and even crisping, avoid overcrowding and cook in batches if necessary.
- These Red Baron French bread pizzas were made in my Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer and were perfect after 6 minutes of cooking. Other brands of air fryer may vary slightly in cooking time and temperature, so consider this a guideline.
- It’s normal for some smaller or lighter toppings to fly off during cooking due to the air circulation. They should just fall back into the basket where you can easily retrieve them before serving.
- The only way to completely stop displaced toppings is to wrap them in foil (which also prevents browning and crisping) but it’ll extend your cook time significantly – about double the time. For best texture, cook unwrapped.
- Store leftover Red Baron French bread pizza in an airtight container, foil, plastic wrap, or zippered bag in the refrigerator. Consume within 4 days for optimal freshness.
- Reheat refrigerated French bread pizzas for 5 minutes at 375°F in the air fryer, or until warmed through and crispy. They may also be microwaved for about 1 minute, but will no longer be crispy. Do not refreeze previously cooked pizzas.
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any toppings added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only.
To truly complete your air fryer Red Baron French bread pizza experience, try serving them with easy Frozen Garlic Knots in the Air Fryer, creamy Air Fryer Roasted Tomato Soup, crispy Air Fryer Bruschetta, or these tasty Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings. The possibilities are endless for creating a truly satisfying meal!
Recipe FAQs About Air Frying French Bread Pizza
Can You Make Red Baron French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer?
Absolutely, you can make Red Baron French bread pizza in the air fryer! In fact, it’s one of the best and fastest methods for cooking these frozen pizzas. The air fryer’s circulating hot air ensures a beautifully crispy crust and perfectly melted toppings, delivering results superior to a microwave and often faster than a conventional oven. There’s no need to defrost the pizza in advance; simply cook it straight from frozen.
How Long to Cook Red Baron French Bread Pizza in Air Fryer?
You should cook Red Baron French Bread pizza in an air fryer for approximately 5-7 minutes at 400°F (200°C). The exact cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispness and browning. For a lightly crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese, 5 minutes is often sufficient. If you prefer a deeper golden brown and extra crispy edges, an additional 1-2 minutes will achieve that. Cooking times may also vary slightly depending on the specific model and wattage of your air fryer.
Does Frozen French Bread Pizza Cook Faster in the Air Fryer?
Yes, frozen French bread pizza cooks significantly faster in the air fryer compared to a conventional oven. An air fryer typically reduces the cooking time by about half compared to oven instructions, which often call for 10-15 minutes or more. While the microwave is technically the fastest cooking method, it results in a soft, often gummy-textured bread that lacks the desirable crispness. The air fryer provides the best balance of speed and quality, yielding a delicious and crispy pizza.
How Do You Reheat French Bread Pizza in an Air Fryer?
To reheat leftover French bread pizza in an air fryer, cook it at a slightly lower temperature of 375°F (190°C) for about 5 minutes, or until it is thoroughly warmed through and crispy again. Reheating at a lower temperature prevents the bread from over-browning or burning while still allowing the cheese to re-melt and the crust to regain its crisp texture. This method is far superior to microwaving, which can make the crust soft and chewy.
Recipe Pro Tips for the Best Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
Mastering how to cook frozen French bread pizza in the air fryer is simple, but a few expert tips can elevate your experience from good to absolutely perfect:
Storage and Reheating Air Fried French Bread Pizza
Don’t let any delicious leftovers go to waste! Proper storage and reheating techniques will ensure your Red Baron French bread pizza remains tasty and satisfying.
More Air Fryer Pizza Recipes to Try
Frozen Pretzel Bites in the Air Fryer (SuperPretzel)
The Easiest Red Baron Deep Dish Pizza Air Fryer Guide
How To Cook Bagel Bites In Air Fryer
Red Baron Pizza Melt Air Fryer Recipe: Quick, Cheesy, and Tasty
DiGiorno Pizza Bites Air Fryer Hack: Crispy Perfection!
Final Thoughts on Air Frying Red Baron French Bread Pizza
Cooking Red Baron French bread pizza in the air fryer is truly a game-changer for anyone seeking a quick, easy, and undeniably delicious meal or snack. This method guarantees a perfectly crispy crust, wonderfully melted cheese, and evenly cooked toppings every single time, all with minimal effort and maximum convenience.
Keep a few boxes of these single-serve pizzas stocked in your freezer, and you’ll always be prepared for a tasty treat or light meal in under 10 minutes! It’s the ultimate solution whether your kids unexpectedly bring friends home, you need a lightning-fast lunch, or that late-night snack craving simply won’t be ignored. The air fryer delivers the ultimate combination of speed and quality, outperforming conventional ovens in efficiency and microwave ovens in texture.
Embrace the simplicity and superior results of air frying your favorite frozen French bread pizzas. It’s a versatile, satisfying, and incredibly easy way to enjoy a classic comfort food that will quickly become a go-to in your kitchen!
Red Baron French Bread Pizza Air Fryer Instructions
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Did you try this recipe?
Mention @TheDinnersDoneQuick or tag #dinnersdonequick! for even more!
Pin Recipe
Leave A Review
